The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 227 The Big Fish Hasn’t Taken the Bait Yet (Second Update)

Chapter 227: 227 The Big Fish Hasn’t Taken the Bait Yet (Second Update)

The small stall Li Xianyun set up was attracting more and more people, causing quite a sensation, so much so that even the officials in charge of the Border Market came to see what the fuss was about.

Li Xianyun glanced seemingly inadvertently towards a Liang Country shop not far away, where someone was watching from a second-floor window.

Only a sliver of the window was open, making it impossible to see clearly who was inside.

Her stall was doing brisk business, and soon, the apricot and peach preserves were sold out.

By the time she arrived in Tianshui County, Li Xianyun had made thorough preparations, bringing a lot of candied fruits, all sealed in large porcelain jars and stored inside the mansion.

After selling out her goods, Li Xianyun wandered around the Border Market with Youlan and Zhuo Ma, purchasing quite a few novelties.

She planned to take them back to Shangjing as presents for Yaduo.

When the group arrived at the checkpoint ready to leave, a customary inspection was required, and just so happened that Little Huzi and the official in charge of the Border Market were there as well.

Li Xianyun spoke as if offhandedly, "The Border Market here is very well established. It seems that all of Official Ma’s hard work hasn’t been in vain, but the cost of setting up a stall is too expensive. A small stall on the east side even requires a rent of five Silver, which not everyone can afford."

Upon hearing this, Little Huzi sensed trouble and quickly stepped forward, saying to the inspecting soldiers, "Have you finished the inspection? If there are no issues, let them leave quickly."

Hearing the commotion, the official in charge came over and said, "Hold on."

Little Huzi had no choice but to step aside and remain silent, but he warned Li Xianyun with his eyes, as if to say, "Pretty boy, if you dare spout nonsense, I’ll make life difficult for you."

Li Xianyun looked at Little Huzi and smiled, "Are your eyes uncomfortable, sir? Staring with such wide eyes is rather odd."

The official in charge had been mingling in the bureaucracy for many years, adept at reading between the lines. How could he fail to detect the implied meaning in these words?

He turned his cold gaze towards Little Huzi.

Little Huzi bowed his head, not daring to speak any further.

The official in charge offered a forced smile, "Young Master, are you acquainted with Officer Ma?"

"I’ve seen him a few times."

Ma Zhaoming and Yelu Yan shared a close relationship and could be said to have some connection.

Li Xianyun spoke naturally, convincing the other party.

The official in charge quickly said, "My apologies, my apologies."

He paused for a moment, "You just mentioned that you paid a rent of five Silver for a stall on the east side?"

Li Xianyun’s expression was one of innocent harmlessness as she nodded, "It was this officer who charged me the five Silver, and I have already paid him."

The official in charge turned his cold gaze back to Little Huzi and spoke flatly, "Bring me ten Silver."

Little Huzi was taken aback, "I only took five Silver."

The officer’s brows furrowed, and Little Huzi, now visibly scared, obediently took out ten Silver from his chest and handed it to the official in charge.

The official handed the ten Silver to Li Xianyun, saying with a smile, "Young Master, it is due to my lack of strict oversight that such corruption has occurred. Rest assured, Young Master, I will punish him severely."

Li Xianyun passed the ten Silver to Youlan to keep safe, "I leave it all to you, sir."

The official in charge and Little Huzi personally escorted Li Xianyun and her group to the carriage.

Watching the carriage grow smaller in the distance, Little Huzi spoke up, "Brother-in-law, why give her such courtesy?"

The official replied irritably, "I’ve told you to restrain yourself time and again, but you just won’t listen. The situation is critical now, and things are different from before. Officer Ma himself is reorganizing the Border Market—a high authority from the capital. If he gets wind of your corrupt behavior, even I can’t protect you."

"I understand, brother-in-law," Little Huzi sighed, "The old days were better when the Border Market fell into a lawless zone, and we could do whatever we wanted."

The official let out a cold snort, "It was you who did whatever you wanted, it had nothing to do with me."

"Yes, yes," agreed Little Huzi.

Little Huzi inwardly scorned: What a coward, shrinking away like that, it’s a wonder how he got his position.

Sitting in the carriage on the way back, Zhuo Ma and Youlan looked at the hefty ten Silver.

Youlan laughed, "Master, not only did we not spend any money, but we also earned five Silver."

"Just now, when I saw Little Huzi’s face looking as if he had swallowed a fly, it was really too funny," Zhuo Ma laughed.

Li Xianyun just pursed her lips and smiled, not seeming too happy.

"Master, what’s the matter, aren’t you happy?" Zhuo Ma asked.

Li Xianyun curved her lips into a smile, "The two of them collaborate so seamlessly, still, it’s obvious that they get along well. If I’m not mistaken, they must be relatives. In the future, we must pay attention to these two people at the Border Market to prevent them from seeking revenge when the opportunity arises."

Zhuo Ma and Youlan both responded solemnly, "Yes!"

Youlan remembered something," Master, will we still set up a stall tomorrow?"

"Of course, the big fish hasn’t taken the bait yet."

"Big fish?" Youlan and Zhuo Ma exclaimed almost simultaneously.

"Are you talking about the dessert shop facing our stall?" Zhuo Ma asked.

That shop was built very luxuriously and was one of the few two-story buildings.

Li Xianyun nodded.

Zhuo Ma had an outgoing personality, always keen to dig deeper.

"Master, what if the big fish doesn’t bite? Do we need to send them some of the candied fruit samples?"

"No," Li Xianyun answered decisively, "if we appear too eager, they definitely won’t take us seriously, and they will haggle down the price as much as they can."

She paused for a moment, "These next few days, we need to let them see that our candied fruits are selling like hotcakes. Only then will the shopkeeper from across the way be unable to resist coming over to take a look. We must be spirited these next few days and try to avoid making any mistakes."

"Yes."

An hour later, the carriage returned to Tianshui County. As they rode down the wide streets, Li Xianyun boredly watched the outside.

At that moment, Li Xianyun’s gaze was caught by a Diviner who was earnestly fortune-telling for a woman.

The woman held a baby that was around one or two months old.

The baby’s complexion was waxen-yellow, sound asleep in its mother’s arms.

There weren’t many people on the street, so Li Xianyun could hear their conversation clearly.

"Your child’s illness is easy to cure. I just need to visit your home, perform some rituals to drive away the evil spirits, burn some talisman papers, and mix them into water for the child to drink, then the sickness will be cured."

The Diviner’s words drilled into Li Xianyun’s ears.

If followed the Diviner’s method, a child with no illness would certainly become sick.

Li Xianyun ordered the carriage to stop and got out. She went straight to the Diviner and said to the poor mother, "He has jaundice, which is common in new-borns, so you shouldn’t worry too much."

The Diviner panicked, standing up, "Who are you?! Stop meddling and scram!"

Bater stepped forward, grabbing the Diviner’s fingers and applying pressure until the sound of bones popping could be heard.

The Diviner cried out in pain, his face contorted, "Strong man, let’s talk this out nicely, I won’t do it again, I won’t do it again."

Bater said coldly, "If you disrespect my master again, beware I won’t be so polite."

"Yes, yes!" The Diviner nodded like a pecking chicken.

Only then did Bater release his hand.

Youlan took the Diviner’s chair and brought it over to the mother, dusting off the surface.

Her actions were filled with disgust for the Diviner.

Li Xianyun sat down and looked at the haggard mother, "Would you mind if I feel his pulse?"

The pitiful mother nodded her head.

If she had the money for a doctor, she wouldn’t have considered seeking the Diviner’s help.